Not a big fan of the usual blabber coming out of Gruden's mouth, but in the Washington/Dallas game he really impressed me with his impartial commentary even as his brother was coaching the Skins. He always referred to his brother as "Gruden" or "Jay Gruden" and was appropriately animated even when Dallas had a big play. A viewer who did not know of the relation would not have picked up on it at all IMO. Really nice professional job of remaining neutral.
Gruden has grown on me a little bit. When I first heard him on MNF, I wasn't the biggest fan because I thought he tended to exaggerate every player's worth and stature (something he still does quite a bit). But, I like three things about him on the air; 1) He obviously knows a shit ton about the game - I always prefer coaches as color commentators to players. They just ooze knowledge. 2) He's honest about the refs and isn't afraid to tell you when they make a terrible call. In fact, he's probably overly critical, which I enjoy. 3) He has pretty good chemistry with Tirico. (Who I have always thought is a very solid play by play guy)
He's good. For someone that never played football had some big achievements (SB with Tampa). Now there's an announcer CBS should hire over and do Jet games . Replace that retard Fouts
Fouts has not struck me one way or the other. The guy I couldn't stand doing the jets games was Paul Maguire.
One of the guys I always feel is very fair (if not pro) Jets is Simms. But we did carry his son on our roster for a while. Paul Maguire did hate us. Probably had an old ax to grind seeing as he was a Bill in the AFL for a long time. My favorite announcer of all time is Don Criqui. Not sure if he still does games though.
He's a moron. Between him and Dungy, they are complete idiots. He knows the game and knows it well but he sounds and comes off as a complete idiot. Just my opinion. Although, no one sounds as bad and as stupid as Tony Dungy. Jesus
Gruden's hilarious. My favorite Gruden moment was when he had Mel Kiper on his QB coach show evaluating the top draft prospects and he just tore him up.
I wasn't implying about Fouts' opinion on NYJ or Maguire's. I just assume Maguire sucked ass as an announcer even when doing other games but recall having to use the radio play by play for the NYJ games he was doing. He'd be talking about everything but what was happening on the field.
Don't get me started here. I hate Gruden with an undying passion!!!!!! Because of his announcing I rarely watch MNF on TV anymore. If I want to pay attention to the game I listen to it on the radio. The westwood one crew of Harlan, Boomer/sometimes Kurt Warner, and Jim Gray in the studio is a good one... I find Gruden's nonsense commentary insufferable. I can't stand that he kisses every player's ass. EVERY players ass. if the guy is a fringe/walk on player he's: "a great young football player" ..if he's a decent NFL player he's: "one of the best at his position in this league" .. if he's a pro bowler we get a 5-10 minute declaration of Gruden's love every time the guy makes a play... if he's J.J. Watt? forget about it. The game turns into an ESPN 30 for 30 ball licking special like we had in the Houston MNF where I officially gave up on ever listening to that a hole Gruden again. the worst part about Gruden though? is that he calls every game basically the same, just fills in the blanks. Its like he has a template for football games and he follows it no matter the circumstances. I understand there has to be some of that, but with Gruden its ridiculous. here's practically every series in EVERY game: ------ 1st down Tirico: "handoff to [insert average backup RB], he gains 7 yards..." Gruden: "[rb's name] is a great young football player. He's the type of tough player the fans like in [insert city of team he plays in] . he never goes down on first contact" (even though he went down on first contact) 2nd down Tirico: "handoff and [same running back] is stopped for no gain by [insert name]" Gruden: "what a start to his career by [insert name]. He's going to be here a long time. I can't think off the top of my head of a guy who's had as many tackles as him since [insert name of historical player]" *****oh look, ESPN puts some cheesy obscure graphic up where [Insert name] and [insert historical name] are the two on the list of course....WHAT A COINCIDENCE! "most tackles by a NFC east player in december since 1995 in road games (WTF???!!) .. 1) [insert name], 2 [insert historical name]" 3rd down Tirico: "Pass to [same running back] in the flat, and he's brought down short of the first down.. 4th down and they'll have to punt" Gruden: "[same running back he just praised 2 plays ago] has got to slip that tackle. and then his favorite line of all? : "If [his team] continues to play like this they won't win this game.." (no fucking shit) -------- The guy offers no color, no commentary, no awareness, not even any consistency. He's like an ass-kissing robot that only speaks in generalities with no basis. That ESPN backs up with ridiculously contrived graphics and statistics based on their own BS just makes the telecast worse
Haha--this is why I said he usually is just babbling but showed unexpected poise during the Skins game and went up a notch (from a low level) in my book.
I watched the last couple games with no sound and music in the background. Been 2-0 since...may do it again this Sunday.
Haha wow a lot of hate here.. He's by far my favorite in the booth. He makes blah games much more exciting, and Tirico is the perfect fit with him to do games with imo.
Funny you mentioned that, Stokes. I recorded those horrible play calls inside the 10 vs Buffalo and used a splice app to put it too Benny Hill music. Update: It's not letting me post it here :-(..copyright I assume ....trust me it's funny
Gruden is terrible. Acting like himself years ago, he was okay, because he wasn't trying to play the GRUDEN character. But now he reminds me of Herm at ESPN, when I have the misfortune to see it. Herm is a complete puppet fuckwit for ESPN, and whenever some turd producer tells him he needs to be passionate, he starts trying to emulate his You Play To Win speech, and it turns out fucking awful. MNF GRUDEN reminds me of that. You can almost hear him straining to make the Chucky face.
Fouts just doesn't know what's going on, on the field and is often wrong on challenges, penalties, first downs, spotting the ball, etc. Gruden annoys me sometimes when he talks about how great a 3rd string special teams player is, but for the most part I love it. He keeps shitty games interesting, and I can't help but like a guy who is that enthusiastic about not only his job but the sport.
Fouts is like a drooling idiot wandering around the room telling you what the pudding tastes like, while he sucks his thumb. Gruden is feverishly grabbing people and telling them the pudding was made by Martha Stewart, is gluten free, and can be ordered at this website that gives 10 cents an order to starving children in Haiti. It's Jello pudding. In a box.
My favorite Gruden moment was when Jay coached in the Arena league and Jon sat in the front row and heckled the ref, hey ref do you know what holding is, then why the fuck don't you call it?
